Selver Ayda Unal
Manchester
Summary
Clinical and Health Psychology graduate with experience delivering Mental Health Support across healthcare, community, research, and voluntary settings. Skilled in psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, safeguarding, multidisciplinary collaboration, and recovery-oriented support. Having lived in seven countries and completed my education within the French international school system, I bring strong intercultural competence and a commitment to improving access to evidence-based MHPSS for migrants and other underserved populations. Fluent in English, French, and Turkish.
Overview
6
6
years of post-secondary education
4
4
years of professional experience
Work history
Mental Health Coach Trainee
Overcome
London (Remote)
2026.01 - Current
- Currently undertaking part-time training with Overcome, a UK-based charity providing free evidence-informed mental health coaching to underserved communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
- Receiving structured training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and graded exposure techniques.
- Developing competencies in psychological assessment, formulation, active listening, behavioural interventions, and client-centred communication through supervised role-play, reflective practice, and competency-based assessments, preparing to deliver mental health coaching to individuals facing barriers to accessing psychological support.
Mental Health Support Worker
Creative Support
2025.05 - Current
- Conducted Mental State Observations (MSOs) and identified psychosocial needs, escalating safeguarding and high-risk concerns to the multidisciplinary team.
- Contributed to risk assessments, relapse prevention, and person-centred care planning for individuals with complex mental health needs.
- Provided emotional support and applied de-escalation techniques during episodes of acute psychological distress.
- Maintained accurate clinical records, including progress notes, risk assessments, and incident documentation.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary professionals to coordinate referrals and deliver recovery-oriented, person-centred support.
- Supported service users in developing coping strategies, promoting wellbeing, recovery, and community reintegration.reintegration.sed approach.
Crisis Volunteer
Shout
Remote (UK)
2025.02 - Current
- Completed specialised training in Psychological First Aid, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment, safeguarding, Mental Health First Aid, and trauma-informed practice.
- Provided immediate psychosocial support and crisis intervention to individuals experiencing acute psychological distress.
- Conducted suicide and psychosocial risk assessments, identified vulnerabilities and protective factors, and facilitated appropriate referrals in line with safeguarding procedures.
- Applied active listening, motivational interviewing, and de-escalation techniques to promote emotional stabilisation, coping, and recovery.
- Maintained accurate case documentation and collaborated with clinical supervisors
Suicide Awareness Advocate (Volunteer)
PAPYRUS
North Wales
2024.06 - 2025.02
- Completed comprehensive safeguarding training on recognising, responding to, and reporting abuse and neglect involving children and vulnerable adults.
- Received specialised training in suicide prevention, including risk identification, supportive communication, and community awareness approaches.
- Delivered suicide prevention and mental health awareness sessions in primary and secondary schools across North Wales, promoting help-seeking behaviours, reducing stigma, and strengthening young people's ability to recognise warning signs and support their peers.
School Psychologist Internship
Ministry of National Education and Youth
Marseille
2022.04 - 2022.05
- Completed a supervised internship with a School Psychologist across nurseries and middle schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities with high migrant and refugee populations.
- Supported the psychological assessment and educational inclusion of children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
- Administered and interpreted standardized psychological assessment tools, including the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs).
- Contributed to multidisciplinary case discussions and the development of individualized educational and psychological support plans.
Research Assistant Volunteer
Common Wheel
Glasgow
2026.07 - Current
- Collaborating with the lead researcher and a multidisciplinary research team to evaluate the impact of community-based mental health and wellbeing activities on service users through qualitative research.
- Leading an evidence review on meaningful activity as a recovery-oriented MHPSS intervention, exploring its role in psychological wellbeing, resilience, social inclusion, identity reconstruction, and recovery.
- Contributing to the design of the research methodology, focus groups, thematic analysis, and interpretation of qualitative data to inform service development and evidence-based MHPSS programming.
- Co-authoring an evaluation report to support programme improvement and strengthen recovery-oriented mental health practice.
Education
MSc - Clinical and Health Psychology
Bangor University
Bangor, North Wales 2023.09 - 2024.09
Bachelor Of Science - Psychology
Aix-Marseille University
Aix-en-Provence, France 2019.01 - 2022.01
French Baccalaureate (equivalent to A-Levels) -
Lycée Catholique Saint Vincent de Paul (High School)
Marseille, France 2017.01 - 2019.06
LANGUAGES
English
Fluent
French
Fluent
Spanish
Intermediate
Turkish
Native
Timeline
Research Assistant Volunteer
Common Wheel
2026.07 - Current
Mental Health Coach Trainee
Overcome
2026.01 - Current
Mental Health Support Worker
Creative Support
2025.05 - Current
Crisis Volunteer
Shout
2025.02 - Current
Suicide Awareness Advocate (Volunteer)
PAPYRUS
2024.06 - 2025.02
MSc - Clinical and Health Psychology
Bangor University
2023.09 - 2024.09
School Psychologist Internship
Ministry of National Education and Youth
2022.04 - 2022.05
Bachelor Of Science - Psychology
Aix-Marseille University
2019.01 - 2022.01
French Baccalaureate (equivalent to A-Levels) -
Lycée Catholique Saint Vincent de Paul (High School)
2017.01 - 2019.06